elieves, that I am fitted to
make laws and would be happy in the work. But she has great tact. She
did not, by either word or glance, condole with me over my defeat.

I also possess a little tact, so I did not exult or express any
gratification in her presence. We neither of us mentioned the subject of
the election. My uncle Thormanby, on the other hand, has no tact at all.
He came over to luncheon the day after I arrived home. We had scarcely
sat down at table when he began to jeer.

"Well," he said, speaking in his usual hearty full-throated way, "better
luck next time."

"I am not sure," I said, with dignified coolness, "that there will be a
next time."

"Oh, yes, there will. 'He who fights and runs away will live to fight
another day.'"

I did not see how the proverb applied to me.

"Do you mean the influenza?" I said. "That was scarcely my fault. My
temperature was 104."

"All the same," said Thormanby, "you didn't exactly stand up to her, did
you?"

I understood then that he was thinking about La-lage.

"Nor did O'Donoghue," I said. "And Vittie really was shamming.
Titherington told me so."

"Influenza or no influenza, I shouldn't have sat down under the things
that girl was saying about you."

"What would you have done?"

"I should have put her in her place pretty quick. I'm sorry I wasn't
there."

As a matter of fact Thormanby had taken very good care not to be
there. He had washed his hands and put the whole responsibility on the
shoulders of Miss Battersby and Miss Pettigrew. I felt it my duty to
bring this home to his conscience.

"Why didn't you come?" I asked. "We'd have been very pleased to see
you."

"Peers," he replied, "are not allowed to interfere in elections."

This, of course, was a mere subterfuge. I was not inclined to let
Thormanby escape.

"You'll have every opportunity," I said, "of putting her in her place
without running your head against the British constitution. She means to
take an active part in electing the new bishop."

"Nonsense. There's no part for her to take. That's a matter for the
synod of the diocese and she won't be allowed into its meetings."

"All the same she'll manage to get in. But of course that won't matter.
You'll put her in her place pretty quick."

Thormanby's tone was distinctly less confident when he next spoke.

"Do you happen to know," he asked, "what she means to do?"

"No, I don't."

"Could you possibly find out? She might tell you